447

Commonwealth Government to Addison

Cablegram 453 CANBERRA, 13 December 1945

SECRET

Our Nos. 447 [1] and 448. [2]

With your 518 [3] in mind we have issued fresh instructions to Colonel Eastman the effect of which will be apparent if for (B) preamble and (1) of our 447 to you the following is substituted- 2. Colonel Eastman has been directed to obtain from the Siamese plenipotentiaries an undertaking that they will take all action necessary for the complete repudiation of the declaration of war made on Great Britain on 25th January 1942 and the alliance with Japan made on 21st December 1941 and of all measures operating to the detriment of Great Britain, Australia and their Allies and an undertaking that Siam will conclude within three months a treaty obliging Siam- (1) To record Siam’s repudiation of the declaration of war the alliance and the measures referred to above; (here follow terms (2) to (7) inclusive).

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1 Dispatched 8 December. On file AA : A1838/2, 451/3/2/2, i. It conveyed much of the substance of Document 437 and argued that Eastman’s instructions would enable the rapid negotiation of separate treaties with the Siamese.

2 Dispatched 9 December. In AA : A3196, 1945, O.30925/26. In response to Addison’s cablegram 516, dispatched 8 December (on file AA : A1838/2, 452/8/3, i) suggesting that the Commonwealth Govt be a joint signatory to the agreement, it countered that the procedure outlined in cablegram 447 might meet the situation.

3 Dispatched 10 December. On the file cited in note 1. It agreed to the Commonwealth Govt’s negotiating a separate treaty with Siam, and, noting that Siamese repudiation of the state of war had already been announced, suggested the amendment set out here to the undertakings required in Document 437.

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[AA : A1838/2, 451/3/2/2, i]